Linear motion device



1953 E. ABRAHAMSON LINEAR MOTION DEVICE Filed May 14, 1952 FIG.2

FIG.

INVENTUR EDMUND ABRAHAM SON S I 7 & PATENT AGENT.

Patented Aug. 25, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

My invention consists in a new and useful improvement in linear motiondevices and is designed to produce linear motion of a mass by vibrationof a track supporting the mass, by means of a periodic electric current,in particular alternating current. This improvement is a furtherdevelopment of my invention disclosed and claimed in my United StatesPatent Number 2,438,958.

It is well-known that the armature of an electromagnet is vibrated whenthe coil of the electromagnet is energized by a periodic current, thearmature being resiliently mounted. I have used this well-known means toinitiate the necessary vibration for producing the linear movement ofthe mass. The novel and useful features of my improved device consist inthe structural elements whereby the vibration of the armature istransmitted to the track to effect linear motion of the mass on thetrack.

I have found by experience that if the coil of the electromagnet isdisposed about the longitudinal axis of the magnet which is verticallydisposed, the armature being substantially horizontally disposed, an armmounted on the armature being vertically disposed and the track mountedon the arm being substantially horizontally disposed, the vibration ofthe track will cause the mass supported on the track to move along thetrack. I have also found by experience that the direction of movement ofthe mass can be determined by the relation of the armature, the armmounted on the armature and the track mounted on the arm. I have,therefore, produced a device in which the means for vibrating the trackare duplicated, whereby the mass can be moved in either of twodirections relative to the track. This result is effected by merelyreversing the connection between the armature and the arm in the secondvibrating unit. My device also has means for automatically reversing thedirection of movement of the mass by merely shifting the energizingperiodic electric current from one vibrating unit to the other.

While there is illustrated in the drawing and hereinafter fullydescribed a specific embodiment of my invention, it is to be distinctlyunderstood that I do not consider my invention to be limited to saidspecific embodiment, but refer for its scope to the claims appendedhereto.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of my improved device, a,portion being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, in the directionof the arrows.

As illustrated in the drawing, the device has a base I of any suitablematerial. Two electromagnets A and B, having coils C and C-I,respectively, are suitably mounted on said base I so that theirlongitudinal axes are normal to the longitudinal axis of the base I. Themagnets A and B have armatures 2 and 2-a, respectively, which havesemi-circular springs 3 and 3-11 mounted on the base I by means ofadjusting posts 4 and La threaded into the base I. It will be noted thatthe armatures 2 and 2-a, normal to the longitudinal axes of the magnetsA and B, are depressed by attraction of the magnets A and B and elevatedby action of the springs 3 and 3-11. The armatures 2 and 2-a haveoblique extensions 5 and 5-a integral therewith from which extend arms 6and 6-0; integral with the extensions 5 and 5a. It will be noted(Fig. 1) that the extensions 5 and 5-11 being at angles from thearmatures 2 and Z-a, and the arms 6 and 6-0. being at 45 angles from theextensions 5 and 5-a, the arms 6 and G-d are normal to the armatures 2and Z-a. It will also be noted that the extensions 5 and 5-a arereversely bent relative to the armatures 2 and Z-a.

Suitably mounted, as by screws 1, on the arms 6 and 6-a, there is atrack 8 in the form of a cylindrical body of suitable non-resilientmaterial, so mounted that its longitudinal axis is parallel with thelongitudinal axis of the base I.

A mass 9, in the form of a parallelopiped, has a transverse bore I0through which passes the body 8. It will be noted that the interiordiameter of the bore I 0 is slightly greater than the exterior diameterof the body 8, and that the bore III is so situated in the mass 9 thatthe longitudinal axis of the bore I0 is above the center of gravity ofthe mass 9 when the mass 9 is mounted on the body 8, so that somewhatless than half of the circumference of the mass 9 about the bore I 0 isin contact with the outer surface of the body 8 (Fig. 2). It is to beunderstood that the'outer surface of the body 8 and the inner surface ofthe mass 9 about the bore III are suitably highly polished to provideanti-friction contact of the mass 9 and the body 8.

The arms 6 and 6-11 have on their upper ends spring contacts II and I la, respectively, mounted on the arms 6 and 6-a by suitable electricinsulating blocks I2 and I2-a.

Slidably mounted in the arms 6 and B-a, there is a rod I3 on which areadjustably mounted collars I 4 and I 4-a. The mass 9 has an upstandinglug l5 for co-action with the collars l4 and I l-a as presentlyexplained.

I will now describe the electrical circuits for my improved device. Itis to be understood that the armatures 2 and 2-a, the springs 3 and 3-a,the extensions 5 and 5-a, the arms 6 and 6-a, and the contacts H and Il-a, and the rod l 3 are suitable electrical conductors, and that therod I3 is in suitable electrical contact with the arms 6 and 6-11. Thesprings 3 and 3-0 are suitably electrically insulated from the base I onwhich they are mounted by the adjusting posts 4 and 4a, and the body 8is either of non-conducting material or is suitably electricallyinsulated. The device is provided with suitable leads L and L-l from anysource of periodic electric current, in particular alternating current.The lead L is provided with a manual control switch S and is connectedby a wire W with the springs 3 and 3-a. The contacts H and II-a areconnected by wires W-l and W-2 with one end of each of the coils C and-1 of the magnets .A and B, respectively, and the lead L-l is connectedby a wire W-3 with the other end of each of the coils C and C-l.

From the foregoing description of the details of construction of mydevice, its use and operation will be obvious. When the parts have beenassembled and are positioned as shown in Fig. 1., the device is causedto operate by .clos- 3 ing switch .S thereby causing the periodicelectric current to flow through a circuit comprising the Wire "W,spring ,3-a, armature .Z-a, extension 5-a, arm Ba., rod 13, contact I-a,the

wire W4, coil C-l of magnet B and the wire the armature .2-.a vibratesverticallyand the body 8 vibrates horizontally. :Such horizontalvibration of the .body 8 under impulse of the vibrating arm -6-a causesthe mass 9 .to move along the body 8 away .from that end of the body 8mounted on the arm 6-11. This action is due to the fact that thevibrating arm 6-5: is caused xon one stroke to push the body 8 so thatthe mass '9 because of its inertia is pro- ,iected in the direction awayfrom the arm B-a, and on .its other stroke to pull the body 8 whichbecause of the inertia .of the mass 9 moves through the immobile mass 9.Thus the successive vibrations of the body '8 cause the mass 9 to travelin the direction away from the arm ti-a.

It is obvious that when the mass 9 has travell-ed sufficiently to engageits lug [5 with the collar M, the rod [3 is shifted .so that it is movedfrom contact l'l-a breaking the above-described circuit, and the rod I3is moved against contact H to close a circuit comprising the Wire W,spring 3, armature 2 extension 5, arm 6, rod 13, contact H, the wireW-l, coil C of magnet A, and the wire W-3, thereby causing the periodicelectric current to energize the coil C of the magnet A causing thearmature 2 to vibrate. 'Th-is vibration of the armature 2 is transmittedthrough extension 5 and arm 6 to the body 8 causing it, as abovedescribed, to vibrate horizontally. However, since the extensions 5 and5-11 are reversely bent, the action of the arm '6 on the body '8 isprecisely opposite to the action of the arm E-a as above described.Hence the mass 9 is caused to move along the body 8 in a direction awayfrom the arm 6, opposite to its movement as above described.

Therefore, so long as switch S is closed the mass 9 is caused to move toand fro on the body 8.

The adjustment of the collars l4 and I l-a on the rod 13 determines thedistance of travel in each direction oi the mass .9.

If desired, the automatic reversing mechanism consisting of rod is,collars I4 and I l-a, lug l5 and contacts II and ll-a, can be omittedand the coils C and C-l can be supplied with independent,manually-controlled circuits whereby the current can be suppliedalternatively to coils .C and C-I.

I have found that my improved device can be actuated by periodicelectric current of various frequencies. As is well-known, the armatures2 and Z-a can be vibrated either by alternating current .or .by directcurrent by usin any suitable interrupter.

Having described my invention, what I claim l. Ina linear motion device,the combination of a base; an electro-magnet so mounted on said basethat the longitudinal axis of its coil is normal to the longitudinalaxis of said base; an armature for said magnet, resiliently mounted onsaid base, and so disposed that its longitudinal axis is parallel withsaid base; a track so mounted on said armature that its longitudinalaxis is parallel with the said axes of :said armature and said base; amass slidably supported on said track; and means adapted to energizesaid electro-magn'et.

2. In a linear motion device, the combination of a base; a pair ofelectro magnets so mounted on said base that the longitudinal axes oftheir coils are normal to the longitudinal axis of said base a pair ofarmatures for said electromagnets, respectively, resiliently mounted onsaid base, and so disposed that their longitu- 'dinal axes are parallelwith said axis of said base; a track having its ends so mounted on saidarmatures, respectively, that its longitu- "dinal axis is parallel withthe said axes of said armatures and said base; a mass slidably supportedon said track; and means adapted to alternately energize saidelectro-magnets.

3. A device, according to claim '1, in which said energizing meanscomprises an electric circuit using said armature, its mounting on saidbase and the mounting of said track as a conductor for a current to saidelectro-magnet.

4. A device, according to claim 1, in which said armature has formedintegral therewith a curved spring mounted on said base, and in whichmeans is provided for adjusting the degree of resiliency of said spring.

5. A device, according to claim 1., having rectilinear element formedintegral with :said armature and a second rectilinear element formedintegral with said first element on which said track is mounted, saidfirst element being disposed at angles of 45 to said armature and saidsecond element. .6. .A device, according to claim 2, in which saidenergizing means comprises a pair of electric circuits using saidarmatures,,their mountings on said base, and the mountings of said trackas conductors for currents fed to said electro-magnets.

'7. A device, according to claim 2, in which each of said armatures hasformed integral therewith a curved spring mounted on said base, and inWhich means are provided for adjusting the degree of resiliency of saidsprings.

8. A device, according to claim 2, having a pair of rectilinear elementsformed integral with said armatures, respectively, and a second pair ofrectilinear elements formed integral with said first pair of elements,respectively, and on which said track is mounted, said first elementsbeing disposed at angles of 45 to said armatures and said secondelements, and said first elements being reversely disposed relative tosaid armatures.

EDMUND ABRAHAMSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

